Ave amici,
Just as the Democratic Republic of the Congo has given a whole new meaning to the word ‘democratic’, so in Australia the Liberal Party has given a whole new meaning to the word ‘liberal’
Australian politics has given us such wonderful semantic wonders as ‘core promises’, ‘on-water matters’ and ‘small l liberal’
For those Dispatchees who are unfamiliar with Australian politics, don’t let that worry you, you’re not missing out on much. Disappointment, disillusion and disenchantment are the likely reward for making the effort to understand it.
Suzannah Espie singing Disappointment ( my Old Friend)… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnfd3z5nUuM
Suffice it to say that the governing coalition of the liberals and nationals (formerly the Country Party) is better described as the Conservatives.
The electoral division of Wentworth is one of only two Australian Federal electoral divisions never held by the Australian Labor (sic) Party. According to census data the electorate has the highest proportion of high income families of all the federal seats in Australia.
A by-election was held in Wentworth in which a massive (record) swing against the Conservatives resulted. There will be countless arguments, opinions etc. as to why such a result resulted. The swing was in favour of an Independent.
Commentators seem agreed on one thing: The electors of Wentworth have “sent the Government a message” whatever that message is.
A ray of sunshine: it is apparent from the result that being privileged and wealthy or well off is not mutually exclusive with having a social conscience.
Having seen the conservative candidate’s speech, in which he most graciously conceded defeat, I conclude that politicians would do well to attend Diplomacy 101 lectures. The conceding candidate has served as Australia’s youngest ever Ambassador (to Israel).
I fear that for our current Prime Minister, such lectures would come too late. He has already committed several humongous faux pas in record time.
This from a 2010 Dispatch-
“There were unprecedented swings in polling booths in central Australia (including Kintore, Santa Teresa, Titjikala, Ampilatwatja, Utopia, Ti Tree, Rockhampton Downs, Yuendumu, Papunya, Mutitjulu and Yulara) against the sitting member and Minister for Aboriginal Health, Warren Snowdon – with some booths showing swings of 60-70% against him and 30-40% to Greens candidate and NTER critic Barbara Shaw”
It was mainly non-Aboriginal voters who got Wazza across the line, and then only by the skin of his teeth.
Warren Snowden was lauded by his parliamentary colleagues (“he is from the Northern Territory and knows his constituents”) . The same is being said of our Current Federal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Nigel Scullion. albeit from the other side of the political fence.
In the 2010 election which Wazza survived, the people from the bush “sent him a message”. Like the Wentworth election which looks like resulting in a “hung Parliament”, if Wazza had lost, it. could well have resulted in Tony Abbott forming a Government instead of Julia Gillard. The butterfly of Chaos Theory.
Big difference, the “message from the bush” received scant publicity and was either not received or was ignored. That ‘ignore’ and ‘ignorant’ are related words goes without saying.
Yuendumu recently had a visit by a group of celebrities including Ernie Dingo and Dan Sultan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z6SyjaPbMg Dan Sultan… Kimberley Calling
In preparation, two sets of car bonnets were installed at the entrance to our town. The bonnets spell W.E.L.C.O.M.E.(twice). A strong gust of wind has knocked down one of the bonnets. It now spells WE COME. Make of that what you will.
In conversation with some French tourists/backpackers I learned that Muammar Gaddafi is alleged to have bankrolled Sarkozy’s electoral campaign. I told them that I empathized with French people in that at the last election they could choose between a Banker and a Fascist. It then dawned on me I was being rather precious, in Australia I told them we weren’t much better off, we got to choose between a Banker and a Wanker.
Deinde usque ad tempus
Franklinus
PS- Elections are not much to sing about. I’m again resorting to non sequitur musical links:
A beautiful song by Joan Baez… El preso numero nueve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjaa-OhDm8Q
And an exuberant performance by a fabulous brass band
No BS! Brass Band: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert….